Robben inspires Bayern victory

Champions League final hosts Bayern Munich’s worries about missing out on the competition were largely allayed when Arjen Robben inspired them to a 2-0 win at home to FC Zurich in the first leg of their playoff.

Champions League final hosts Bayern Munich’s worries about missing out on the competition were largely allayed when Arjen Robben inspired them to a 2-0 win at home to FC Zurich in the first leg of their playoff.

Robben set up the first goal for Bastian Schweinsteiger and curled in the second himself as last season’s Swiss Super League runners-up did little to suggest they could trouble the Bavarians in next week’s return.

Odense produced a shock 1-0 win at home to Spaniards Villarreal when Hans Henrik Andreasen scored following an awful defensive blunder with six minutes left.

Wisla Krakow, who like the Danish side are hoping to play in the Champions League for the first time, beat Cypriots APOEL by the same score.

Brazilian playmaker Sammir scored twice to help Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb to a 4-1 win at home to former European Cup finalists Malmo and Maccabi Haifa beat Genk 2-1.

Bayern have only missed out on the Champions League once in the last 14 seasons and their worst nightmare would be failing to qualify in a season when the final takes place at the Allianz Arena.

Their first-leg victory would appear to be an ample advantage against Zurich whose Letzigrund stadium is one of Europe’s less intimidating venues.

Zurich’s best chance in Munich came after five minutes when Ricardo Rodriguez’s long cross found Amine Chermiti and his header flew over. After that, it was all Bayern and they went ahead three minutes later when Robben broke to the byline and found an unmarked Schweinsteiger who headed in from close range.